Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

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A week ago, many national college basketball analysts said Michigan wouldn't make the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16 after a 6-6 finish in Big Ten play.

It's amazing what two blowout wins will do for media reputation.

Most experts now are predicting the fourth-seeded Wolverines to beat top-seeded Kansas on Friday in Arlington, Texas. That includes all four CBS Sports college hoops experts -- Gary Parrish, Jeff Goodman, Matt Norlander and Jeff Borzello -- and USA Today "bracket specialist" Patrick Stevens.

"Ultimately, this could go either way, but the guess here is Michigan gets one step closer to its first Final Four trip since 1993," Stevens wrote.

Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples also liked Michigan as the team to reach the Final Four when breaking down the entire South bracket that also includes No. 3 seed Florida and No. 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast.

"If the Wolverines can maintain the chemistry they showed this past weekend, they're one of the tourney's toughest outs," Staples wrote.

Press clipping

• USA Today's Scott Gleeson, on the possibility of an all-Big Ten Final Four: "The likelihood of this happening is slim to none. Ohio State is a favorite to win the West Regional, and Indiana is a favorite to win the East Regional. But Michigan is facing a potent-yet-vulnerable No. 1 seed in Kansas before a potential matchup with an equally as scary Florida team in the South Regional. Even worse in the Midwest, Michigan State has a matchup with Duke in its way of potentially getting a chance to slay Louisville, the tourney's top overall seed."

Quick hits

• Sorry, UCLA: Virginia Commonwealth is working hard to restructure coach Shaka Smart's contract and could reach an agreement by the end of the week, USA Today reported.

• Miami might be without big man Reggie Johnson when it plays Marquette in the Sweet 16 on Thursday after he suffered a lower-extremity injury vs. Illinois in the previous game.